How to Generate PDFs with Async and Multithreading

Async and threading are crucial when generating high-performance PDFs in C# and VB.NET with IronPDF in batches or for optimized performance.

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Async Example

IronPDF fully supports async operation using its rendering methods such as the RenderHtmlAsPdfAsync method.

:path=/static-assets/pdf/content-code-examples/how-to/async-async.cs
using IronPdf;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

// Instantiate ChromePdfRenderer
ChromePdfRenderer renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

string[] htmlStrings = {"<h1>Html 1</h1>", "<h1>Html 2</h1>", "<h1>Html 3</h1>"};

// Create an array to store the tasks for rendering
var renderingTasks = new Task<PdfDocument>[htmlStrings.Length];

for (int i = 0; i < htmlStrings.Length; i++)
{
    int index = i; // Capturing the loop variable
    renderingTasks[i] = Task.Run(async () =>
    {
        // Render HTML to PDF
        return await renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdfAsync(htmlStrings[index]);
    });
}

// Wait for all rendering tasks to complete
// await Task.WhenAll(renderingTasks);
Imports IronPdf
Imports System.Threading.Tasks

' Instantiate ChromePdfRenderer
Private renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()

Private htmlStrings() As String = {"<h1>Html 1</h1>", "<h1>Html 2</h1>", "<h1>Html 3</h1>"}

' Create an array to store the tasks for rendering
Private renderingTasks = New Task(Of PdfDocument)(htmlStrings.Length - 1){}

For i As Integer = 0 To htmlStrings.Length - 1
	Dim index As Integer = i ' Capturing the loop variable
	renderingTasks(i) = Task.Run(Async Function()
		' Render HTML to PDF
		Return Await renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdfAsync(htmlStrings(index))
	End Function)
Next i

' Wait for all rendering tasks to complete
' await Task.WhenAll(renderingTasks);
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

Multi-Threading Example

IronPDF is thread-safe and supports multithreading when using the IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer rendering engine. Note that multithreading is limited on macOS machines.

The Parallel.ForEach pattern is particularly useful for batch processing PDFs.

:path=/static-assets/pdf/content-code-examples/how-to/async-multi-thread.cs
using IronPdf;
using System.Collections.Concurrent;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

var queue = new List<string>() { "<h1>Html 1</h1>", "<h1>Html 2</h1>", "<h1>Html 3</h1>" };

// Instantiate ChromePdfRenderer
ChromePdfRenderer renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// Create a list to store the rendered PDFs
List<PdfDocument> pdfResults = new List<PdfDocument>();

Parallel.ForEach(queue, html =>
{
    // Render HTML to PDF
    PdfDocument pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);

    // You may choose to save the PDF to disk here if needed
    // For this example, we'll store it in the pdfResults list
    lock (pdfResults)
    {
        pdfResults.Add(pdf);
    }
});
Imports IronPdf
Imports System.Collections.Concurrent
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Threading.Tasks

Private queue = New List(Of String)() From {"<h1>Html 1</h1>", "<h1>Html 2</h1>", "<h1>Html 3</h1>"}

' Instantiate ChromePdfRenderer
Private renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()

' Create a list to store the rendered PDFs
Private pdfResults As New List(Of PdfDocument)()

Parallel.ForEach(queue, Sub(html)
	' Render HTML to PDF
	Dim pdf As PdfDocument = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html)

	' You may choose to save the PDF to disk here if needed
	' For this example, we'll store it in the pdfResults list
	SyncLock pdfResults
		pdfResults.Add(pdf)
	End SyncLock
End Sub)
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

Performance Comparison

Let's perform a comparison. A 5-second delay is additionally added in rendering with the WaitFor class for simulating complex HTML rendering. Below is a comparison table of the performance using various techniques described above.

Normal Render Asynchronous Render Multithreaded Render
15.75 seconds 05.59 seconds 05.68 seconds

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I convert HTML to PDF asynchronously in C#?

You can convert HTML to PDF asynchronously in C# using IronPDF's RenderHtmlAsPdfAsync method, which allows for efficient PDF generation by not blocking the main thread.

What is the benefit of using multithreading for PDF processing?

Multithreading in PDF processing with IronPDF allows you to handle multiple PDF conversions concurrently, making it ideal for batch processing and leveraging multiple CPU cores for enhanced performance.

Can IronPDF be used for both async and multithreaded PDF generation?

Yes, IronPDF supports both asynchronous and multithreaded PDF generation. You can use RenderHtmlAsPdfAsync for async operations and Parallel.ForEach for multithreaded processing.

Is IronPDF thread-safe for PDF generation?

Yes, IronPDF is thread-safe, particularly when using the IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer rendering engine, although there are some limitations on macOS.

How does the performance of async PDF generation compare to multithreaded generation?

In performance comparisons, asynchronous PDF generation with IronPDF typically takes around 5.59 seconds, while multithreaded generation takes about 5.68 seconds, both significantly faster than normal rendering at 15.75 seconds.

What is a practical use case for multithreading in PDF processing with IronPDF?

A practical use case for multithreading with IronPDF is batch processing, where you need to convert a large number of HTML files to PDFs simultaneously, optimizing resource usage and reducing processing time.

Are there any specific considerations for using IronPDF on macOS?

While IronPDF supports multithreading, there are noted limitations when using this feature on macOS. It's important to test and verify multithreaded applications in your specific environment.

Chipego
Software Engineer
Chipego has a natural skill for listening that helps him to comprehend customer issues, and offer intelligent solutions. He joined the Iron Software team in 2023, after studying a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. IronPDF and IronOCR are the two products Chipego has been focusing on, but his knowledge of ...Read More